Chapter 48

“Umm . ”

“Aah?”

After the discussion was over, Tedla spoke to Alhart, Keyhart, and some others who still remained to chat .

“Why did Syltina-sama not tell us anything even when she knew what was going to happen to her?”

“……Why not ask her yourself?”

“Eh?”

“Actually, I am destined to be betrayed by everyone and either be executed or exiled . I will also lose everything because I was set up by the girl who came from a different world . If you were told such a thing, would you believe her?”

“That’s……”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t believe her . I would think she’s lost it and have her shown to a doctor instead . ”

“……”

“Just because you have some information doesn’t mean you can talk about it with just anyone . ”

“Sometimes, it’s also in your best interest to keep quiet about something . ”

“Maybe Syltina-san decided not to discuss it with you because she decided that it wasn’t something she could easily talk about, don’t you think? Instead, I’m sure she decided to believe in you . ”

“Well, in the end, that trust was met with betrayal though . ”

“……”

Those who met Tedla’s silent gaze merely shrugged their shoulders .

“Ahh, right, right, it was only your father who knew everything . ”

“Eh?”

“And, yet, he never said anything to you . I wonder why?”

“……”

Alhart directs a wry smile at Tedla, who furrowed his eyebrows .

“You don’t have to think about it too much . Our opinions are ours, and, so are our subjective conclusions . If you don’t agree with it, or if you don’t understand it, that’s fine, too . If you look at it from a different perspective, you draw different conclusions . What is justice for one side is evil for the other side, it’s the natural order . But, you’re on this side now . You’re on the same side as us . Whatever you come to, you’re going to have to follow our lead, and you have to understand that . ”

The sound of his voice was cold and penetrating .

Tedla had no choice, but to keep quiet and listen .

ーーー

ー

“The way he said it back there was pretty harsh, but I’m sure he was thinking about you in his own way when he said those things . ”

“Huh?”

After Alhart left, Keyhart came over to talk to Tedla .

“We also just recently joined up with the Dipterous Sword, so I can’t say much about it, but they always use their power for the sake of their people . And that is especially true in the plan being carried out this time . ”

“Well, I heard that the people from the Guild have various reasons . It may be related to that, but it’s probably why the unity within their organization is pretty firm . Even if you become one of the people who came over to this side, you still won’t be their ally . There’s no way they’d take you in as their comrade . ”

“Still, after hurting Syltina-san once, to let you go over to their side is already a huge compromise for them . That’s why, as Keyhart said, Alhart-san is also looking out for you . ”

“Umm, what do you mean by looking out for me……?”

“You still don’t get it, do you……?”

“……”

Tedla was at a loss for words, so Keyhart began to explain in a way that seemed like it was unavoidable .

“As Alhart-sama said, your father also knew everything about the incident 2 years prior . In fact, he was also in contact with Famiras-sama and Heine-sama, so their relationship is more than you think . That’s why your father is their ally . Two years ago, Syltina-sama, who could have been executed, was exiled because of your father……it seems Galdt-sama had a hand in that decision . And, that deportation was part of the plan . In other words, unlike you and your elder brother, Galdt-sama did not betray Syltina-sama in the truest sense . ”

Tedla could not hide his surprise at the information laid before him .

“So, it’s related to what we were talking about earlier, but, you and your elder brother were shown mercy there . I don’t know if Galdt-san asked for it or if it was intended from the start, but you were given a choice . And you guys chose to be on this side . ”

“Perhaps, elder brother as well……?”

“Zeld-san is on the encampment in Manrinia, together with the Balratona Duke Family’s private army . And, just like you, he has also made his choice . ”

“But, it still doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed Syltina-sama once, no matter how many times you become one of the people cooperating on our side . ”

“No amount of repentance or regret can erase that fact, and The Dipterous Sword will never forget or forgive you either . ”

“……”

“That’s why Alhart-san said what he said earlier . ”

“To just agree to disagree on what we think?”

“Yes, that . In other words, he’s telling you not to cause any problems by unskillfully opposing the Guild’s ideas . When someone in a very sensitive position like you guys disagree with the consensus of the Guild, it could give them a good reason to make you disappear . Alhart-san was advising you to keep that from happening beforehand . ”

“Well, I don’t think he’d go that far and not tell you something like that though . ”

“……For my sake?”

“I don’t know whose sake it is for . ”

“You and Zeld-san are being kept alive because they made a huge concession . Don’t forget that . ”

Tedla nodded at Sesshura’s warning .

Keyhart and Lunard also nodded in satisfaction .